For the second time this week, Auburn has landed a priority recruit who was born and raised in Louisiana, where the Tigers suddenly seem to have an increased presence.
Monday, it was Baton Rouge native Austin Ausberry, a 4-star defensive back. A day later, 3-star defensive tackle Enyce Sledge of Monroe’s Neville High, has committed to Bryan Harsin’s program.
Sledge, listed at 6-foot-3.5, 315 pounds, is the No. 36 recruit in the state of Louisiana for 247Sports. An athletic prospect who also plays basketball, he chose the Tigers over Baylor, to whom he once was committed, and Oklahoma State.
Why Auburn?
“What I like the most is how they care about person over player and how they want guys that want to work hard and succeed,” Sledge told Auburn Undercover on Tuesday morning.
After gaining two verbals Monday but also losing two others, Auburn began Tuesday at No. 32 in the 247Sports recruiting team rankings. Sledge’s commitment moves the Tigers up to No. 28. And the day isn’t over.
???????????????? #Committed @samspiegs @SWiltfong247 @Fox9Sports @SInow @AaronsAces pic.twitter.com/26CfBAVsLK
— ENYCE SLEDGE? (@The_RealAPE) December 14, 2021
Four-star cornerback JaDarian Rhym of Valdosta (Ga.), currently an LSU commitment, will announce his final choice 5 p.m. CT Tuesday on Twitter (@JaDarianRhym2_). Should it land Rhym, Auburn potentially could move all the way up to No. 20.
Sledge de-committed from Baylor on Nov. 16. Auburn offered him a scholarship exactly two weeks later during a visit to Sledge’s school by Tigers defensive line coach Nick Eason. Eason saw him again the following week, and Sledge officially visited Auburn this past weekend.
For Sledge, that trip gave him a chance to learn more about the program and the school while also getting to know the coaching staff better. Auburn checked all the boxes and he gave the visit a perfect ’10.’
“Off the field they’re cool, but they showed when they get back to this Auburn facility it’s time to work,” Sledge said Sunday. “That stood out to me. When they got here they kind of stayed the same. They told me they’re going to be the same way on and off the field, but when it’s time they’ll put that coaching hat on and go to work.”
Sledge will sign with Auburn on Wednesday and enroll at the school next summer.
He is the Tigers’ second 2022 defensive line commit, joining 4-star prospect Caden Story,
